While introducing your resident dog to a new kitten or cat may pose it’s challenges, there are ways to encourage and help your furry friends get along successfully. Many owners have found that it may be easier to introduce a canine and feline when both are at a young age. Kittens and puppies detached from their recent litter-mates may be more open to companionship than a pet who has already established a place in your family as an adult. While this circumstance is often ideal, not every harmonious cat and dog friendship began this way.
In any case and in any life stage, there are tried and proven tactics you can use to introduce cats and dogs to one another.
1. Slow and steady. It is recommended to begin by keeping your pets in separate rooms without access to one another. Ensure that your new cat or kitten has a safe room or area of your home, equipped with multiple hiding nooks that your dog cannot access or see. However excited you may be to introduce your pets to one another, it is important to exercise patience during this time. Separation without visibility or contact between pets during this stage is crucial. It is best to do this for at least 1 week. This will give your new cat or kitten enough time to feel safe in his/her new environment while your dog adjusts to the unseen presence of another family member.
2. Introducing smells. Once your new kitten or cat is comfortable and your dog begins to relax near the cat’s area, sharing items such as toys and used blankets between the pets allow them to familiarize themselves with one another’s scents without coming into physical contact. Feeding your cat and dog on either side of a door which separates them can help both pets associate each other’s presence and scents with positive experiences such as meal times. After repeating this step several times, you may switch locations of the pets for 30 minutes per day. You can achieve this by letting your dog enter your cat’s area while your cat explores the rest of your home.
3. Visibility. After restricting contact and visibility for multiple weeks, you may begin introducing your pets to one another by sight. This is best done in gradual intervals which increase over time under close supervision. Placing your new cat or kitten in a spacious carrier while allowing your dog to observe from a distance is a great start. Over time, you may even opt to invest in a reliable toddler gate or mesh barrier which you can put in place to keep your pets separated while still allowing full visibility. At least 2 weeks are recommended for this step. The goal is to achieve comfortability between pets until your dog and cat seem calm in one another’s presence. Your dog should be able to break eye contact for extended periods of time with your cat while your cat/kitten is still within visible range. Introducing treats during this step is extremely helpful. Rewarding your dog with a treat after successfully disregarding your cat for extended periods of time is recommended.
4. Remove the barrier. After you’ve established trust and comfortability between pets at a distance, you may remove the barrier set in place or release your cat/kitten from his or her carrier. Keep your dog secure on a harness or lead at all times, allowing your kitten or cat to roam on its own accord around the room. During this step, continue to encourage your dog to disregard your new cat’s presence with treats or toys. Repeat this step numerous times until your dog seems reasonably unconcerned with your cat’s presence in close proximity. Before ever considering to remove your dog’s lead or harness in your cat’s presence, your cat and dog should have practiced this step multiple times over the course of a week or more. Your pets should no longer express eagerness, uncertainty, or fixation around one another for considerable periods of time.
5. The final step. After weeks of care, patience, and persistence, you are ready to introduce your dog to the newest member of your family! During this step, you will be able to remove your dog’s harness or lead while your cat or kitten roams freely. Make certain that this step is done in a room where your cat has access to a high counter or safe space that they can retreat to should they feel the need to at any time. Despite the common stereotype, it is possible for both cats and dogs to establish a long lasting and fulfilling friendship. Although this process may seem lengthy and trying at times, it is important to remember that patience is among one of the most important factors throughout this journey. All felines and canines display patience is among one of the most important factors throughout this journey. All felines and canines display their own individual personalities and can acclimate at different rates. You may find that this process may be easier and faster for certain pets while others may need many months to form a bond with their new housemate. For any guidance, suggestions, or support during this process, contact your veterinarian.
